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Council sets preliminary TRIM at 3.5886 to fund new Jupiter Fire Rescue; vote 4–1
Summary
Town CFO Scott Reynolds presented a proposed FY2027 TRIM rate of 3.5886, combining the town operating rate and a 1.1992-mill fire portion; council approved a preliminary TRIM notice and directed staff to add explanatory language about transitioning fire service.
Scott Reynolds, the Town of Jupiter’s chief financial officer, told the council the town’s property valuations rose 6.4% heading into fiscal year 2027 and proposed a combined TRIM millage of 3.5886 to include the new Jupiter Fire Rescue.
“The property valuations have increased by 6.4% going into FY 2027,” Reynolds said, and he laid out the components: a general operating millage of 2.3894 and a fire portion of 1.1992. He said the town estimates roughly $10,000,000 in first-year taxpayer savings from the transition away from the county fire assessment and that the proposed rate would generate about $70,000,000 of property tax revenue with approximately $25,800,000 above the rollback rate.
Councilors pressed staff on the mechanics created by recent state law changes. Reynolds summarized what he said were two relevant reforms: removing personal-income growth from the rollback formula and the voting thresholds that apply when a council seeks to set rates above statutory limits.
“As I understand it, if you go up to 110% of that rate it would require four of the five to vote for that,” Reynolds said, and he confirmed that rates above that threshold would require a unanimous vote.
Council discussion ranged from how to present resident impacts to whether the resolution adopting the TRIM notice should include an explicit “whereas” noting the elimination of the county MSTU so readers understand why the town’s combined rate may appear higher on paper. One councilor urged staff to advertise a slightly higher trim notice to preserve options and to avoid the need to re-advertise if the council later decided to alter the non‑ad valorem fire assessment approach.
Councilor (mover) made a motion to set the TRIM notice at 3.5886 and to amend the resolution to reference the establishment of Jupiter Fire Rescue for clarity; the motion was seconded by another councilor and passed 4–1. Staff confirmed this vote sets a preliminary advertising rate and that the first required public hearing is scheduled for 2026-09-08.
What happens next: staff will finalize the resolution language for advertising, publish the TRIM notice as required by state law, and return to the council for the budget hearings in September where final millage decisions will be made.
